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Loreen Pardoe Post 1

• 2 June 2020, 2:37 PM

A Trip to Holland

One of my favourite insights into a family's acceptance of a diagnosis and life with a child who has ASN. It's stayed with me for a very very long time and I thought others here may enjoy.

https://www.ndss.org/resources/a-parents-perspective/

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Loreen Pardoe Post 2 in reply to 1

• 2 June 2020, 5:31 PM

Deaf Poet Society

Raymond Antrobus's poems are really powerful. Once worked in a rehabilitation home for those with severe and complex needs, many also institutionalised, with view to moving into community with supports and building skills for independence / less dependence. At one point our home because a signing one - all our residents were registered / declared to be deaf. Amazingly found one incredible young woman - 23 when she joined us - was not deaf. She had had a very complex and non-supportive / nurturing early years and childhood as result of her learning delays and behaviour. Was brought into SN Hosp very young and left with no family support or visits. She made friends with girl a year older - who was deaf. She mimicked her friend very closely, learnt signing as this was used daily and in the busy, huge ward, her signs of hearing went unnoticed. Will never forget her and the look in her eyes when I spoke to her, no signing and told her I knew she could hear. A bit like Elizabeth in extended interview...some connections can still take your breath away decades later. 

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Sarah Burton Post 4 in reply to 2

• 12 June 2020, 2:41 PM

Thanks for sharing that Loreen - I too find Raymond Antrobus poems powerful - have you seen this film of his: Dear Hearing World - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJEU5Vg4ITc

Sarah 

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Loreen Pardoe Post 6 in reply to 4

• 23 June 2020, 12:43 AM

Dear Hearing World

Goosebumps. 

"You were never a broken interpreter". What a telling statement. 

What a difference we could/can make if we look and think about what we can do to create the optimal opportunities for all to connect, communicate, be heard / seen and have fun together, learn together and grow together. 

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Jackie Musgrave Post 3 in reply to 1

• 3 June 2020, 9:03 AM

I love 'a trip to Holland' Loreen, I haven't read it for a while, but have just done so and it still sends a really powerful and poignant message, reminding us to look for the different strengths in all of us.  Thank you for sharing and I hope others enjoy it too

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Loreen Pardoe Post 5 in reply to 3

• 23 June 2020, 12:34 AM

It resonated with me the first time I read it (a long time ago now...lol). I wrote it out and kept it in the centre of my message board when I was training to be a nurse, for children and adults with severe and complex needs. Such a powerful message but recognises the sense of loss, confusion and grief that so many of our families went through. Lovely to hear it has the same effect for others :). 

Really enjoyed the course and shared that with Together today, addressing Children's Rights and the need for training that helps to ensure environments, including the people in it, are highly qualified for supporting, caring for and educating all children with additional support needs / disabilities.